God’s Divine Appointments

Divine appointments are not events; they are people that God puts in my path. Divine appointments are people who sit next to me on airplanes, wait on my table in restaurants, stand in line with me, or have some kind of contact with me. I assume that God desires me to intercede for every divine appointment. I take my divine appointments seriously because of these, and other, scriptures:

• “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5).

• “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ” (Philemon 6).

• “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Since 1997, I average about 160 to 200 divine appointments each year. Typically, I ask the people what I can pray about for them. After I receive a prayer request, I normally tell my divine appointments that I will pray for their requests for one month. After one month, I am free to pray for anything that I want. In reality, I pray weekly for divine appointments for one year. The last eleven months I am typically praying that God would give him or her a passionate heart for Himself or something about a relationship with Him.

Father, there are so many hurting, damaged people all around me. Help me to see them with Your eyes and to love them enough to reach out with the divine gift of prayer. Give me a deep desire to “make the most of every opportunity” (divine appointment) you place in my path during the course of each day.

Prayer Points

Praise God for his creativity. Give glory for the unending variety exhibited in his creation. Thank God for the wonderful way you have been made and for your unique personality, gifts, and talents. Confess any dissatisfaction you have had with the way you have been created. Commit yourself to serving God with your gifts and talents. Ask that God may reveal your spiritual gifts to you and give you opportunity to use them for him.

Pray that the gospel may reach, touch, and renew the hearts and minds of people without hope in our world today so that there may be a great harvest of souls brought into the church.